Sukkot סוּכּוֹת

Rabbi Yissacher Frand writes:

After Yaakov met Esav, they (at least partially) reconciled, and then they decided to go their separate ways.  The pasuk says, “So Esav went back that day on his way toward Seir.  Then Yaakov journeyed to Succos and built himself a house, and for his livestock he made shelters (Succos); therefore he called the name of the place Succos.” [Bereishis 33:16-17].
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There are two problems with this pasuk.  The first is that Yaakov only called the name of the place Succos after he got there (after he erected the shelters (Succos) for the livestock).  Nevertheless, the pasuk says “he journeyed to Succos” as if that was the pre-existing name of the town.  Of course, we can say that the pasuk is speaking in “prophetic future tense” — i.e., Yaakov journeyed to the place that in the future he would name Succos.  However, it is strange to find it written that way.

The other question is that it seems that Yaakov named the town for a very insignificant fact — namely the structures he built for his cattle.  Why is the town (apparently) named for the huts he made for his livestock?

The author of the sefer Milchemes Yehuda discusses these questions.  He says that the pasuk is teaching that Succos is not merely a place on the map — it is a state of mind.  The Torah is teaching that Yaakov Avinu is now entering the final stage of his life.  Yaakov lived in his parents’ house for many years, during which time he sat and learned.  Then he went to Yeshivas Shem V’Ever for another fourteen-year period where, again, he sat and learned.  Then, as a fugitive running for his life, he left Eretz Yisrael— the Promised Land — and worked by Lavan for twenty years.  He worked for one wife, then he worked for another wife, and then he needed to earn a bit of a livelihood for himself.  This was all a prelude for the final stage of his life.  Now, Yaakov is coming back to Eretz Yisrael.  In today’s terminology, he is finally “settling down.”

Yaakov makes a decision.  He said to himself, when I was by Lavan, I saw what is involved in earning a living.  I saw how Lavan acts.  I am now beginning “the rest of my life.”  I have seen enough of life to know that materialism (gashmiyus) and the struggle to make a living and all other mundane pursuits in this world can become a person’s raison d’etre — they can become the reason for a person’s existence.  I do not want this to happen to me because I know that the only thing that counts in this world is spirituality (ruchniyus) and service of Hashem.  All the rest is just peripheral.  It may be necessary, but it is only a means to an end.

So therefore, when the pasuk says that Yaakov traveled to Succos, it is not referring to the name of that town.  It is referring to this concept that a person must look at his pursuit of gashmiyus — the material things in life — houses, livelihood, cattle — as merely just travelling “to Succos.”  It is all temporary.  A person cannot take it with him.  All these acquisitions are not going to make a bit of difference after 120 years.  They are all transitory.

They are like a Succah.  When someone is out camping, he does not put up a house for his ten-day camping trip.  People put up tents, because it is just a temporary situation.  Yaakov traveled to Succos:  “Now I am starting my life — I have finished with Lavan, I have finished with Eisav – so now I am beginning.  My mindset is to Succos.”  I called the name of the city I would live in “Temporary Huts” [Succos] because I am making a statement for myself and for my children that this entire world must be viewed in the context of a temporary dwelling — “Succos.”